The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).

The Center of NJ Life: Central New Jersey news, and whatever else catches my interest, filtered through the sarcasm of a resident living in the center of Our Fair State.

FIGHT FOR UNION RIGHTS: Join the New Jersey State AFL-CIO E-Activist Network

Sign up here to take action on behalf of working families in New Jersey. You will receive news and alerts from our E-Activist Network Center. We will notify you when we need you to contact legislators or other officials regarding important issues for working families in New Jersey.

By including your home address information when you sign up, our E-Activist Network software will know which Congressional and Legislative District you live in. So when you want to send a fax to your legislator, it will automatically be sent to the correct legislator.

Our list is never shared or sold to anyone, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

NATIONAL JEWISH DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL: The National Jewish Democratic Council is the trusted voice and resource for Democratic office holders, candidates and party organizations to better understand and engage with the Jewish community. NJDC mobilizes the Jewish community and convenes opinion leadership to support the Democratic promise for all Americans. We look to our Jewish tradition to guide us on the issues of social and economic justice, religious pluralism and the peace and security of the State of Israel that will be the hallmark of our work.

NJDC believes that through our work in Democratic Party politics, we can ensure a better world for our children and grandchildren.

NJDC Chapter: New Jersey

For more information, or to become a member of the New Jersey chapter, email larry@stemplerlaw.com.

NEW JERSEY NAACP: Here is a list of local NAACP branches in New Jersey

In 1999, four hundred Latino leaders from diverse organizations across the State of New Jersey convened a conference at Rutgers University that concluded in the creation of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. As a non-partisan, non-exclusive organization, our diverse constituency is bound together by mutual strengths and common goals. Only in this way may we ensure that LLANJ plays a part in cultivating our next generation of Latino leaders.

Members of LLANJ join together to create one voice for Latinos in New Jersey. In representing Latino parents, primary and secondary educators, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, religious leaders, immigrant groups, student leaders and business professionals, we recognize how our various needs interconnect and work as a collective unit to shape the role of Latinos in New Jersey.

New Jersey Stonewall Democrats claism to be "New Jersey's only grassroots Democratic LGBTI organization." And from what I can find, there aren't too many others around. If you want to fight for LGBT rights in New Jersey, sign up with NJ Stonewall Democrats on Facebook.

And for less political LGBT resources: PFLAG of North Jersey: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of North Jersey is a group of people who meet regularly in the South Orange area and are dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, their families and their friends. Meetings are 2nd Sunday of Every Month. Our regular meeting is from 2:30 to approximately 4:15. Newcomer's meet from 1:30 to 2:30 in a smaller, more informal setting. For more info contact: Helpline: 973-267-8414 orpflagwaver_at_aol.com

New Jersey for Democracy:Howard Dean started the strategy that won big in 2006 and 2008. Let's continue to the tradition. Here are the local Democracy for America groups in New Jersey:

It took nearly 7 years living within a few blocks of one of the biggest food co-ops in America before Joy and I joined it. We were definitely reluctant. But, in the end the lack of good produce and the decline of our local supermarkets led to us joining. And the result is a slighly more inconvenient shopping trip each week, but much healthier, higher quality and cheaper food. I recommend joining a co-op if there is one nearby. You will save money and eat healthier. So I will list some local food co-ops in New Jersey:

Purple Dragon Co-op was formed in 1987 to bring natural foods into our area at prices closer to wholesale. In 1989, we began working to improve the availability of exquisitely fresh organic produce for our members. Janit London, a songwriter and veteran of many food co-ops, with 20 years’ experience in the Natural Foods business, designed Purple Dragon’s unique format, i.e., a new low-labor co-op model that works for today’s busy families.

Purple Dragon originated the idea of a mixed produce variety basket that has been copied all over our area and has become a national trend. We buy from many local organic and some ecological farmers and work closely with them to support their efforts to grow food in an ecologically sound manner in our own community.

We also shop up and down the East Coast, eastern Canada, the rest of the US, Europe, New Zealand, Israel and buy from certain farms in Central and South America and the Caribbean. When in doubt about a grower’s authenticity, we double check certifications with reliable sources in the industry. We work to provide you with the finest and most interesting variety of organic produce available.

We work constantly to refine and improve our service. We welcome your suggestions. We are also different in that we are the only group that is really a co-op. Our members actually work (see “How much do I have to work?”) This allows lower prices, better quality produce, and we get to meet people with similar interests in our area. It is also a chance to be closer to nature by handling the beautiful fruits and vegetables soon after they arrive from local farms.

Another difference is that we stand up for what we believe. We recycle all office paper, use only recycled paper, return crates to farmers and support environmental and organic farming associations, including the Organic Trade Association, CAFF, Sierra Club, NYCAP, NCAP, NOFA, American Farmland Trust, and the NJ Organic Farming Association.

The George Street Co-op is a non-profit natural foods store owned and run by its members. We sell vegetarian foods with the greatest nutritional value possible, and only minimal processing, additives or toxins. Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op and choose from our excellent selection of fresh organic produce, bulk foods, vitamins & herbs, body care and earth-friendly products, gifts, and more.

The Co-op serves the community by supporting local farms, community groups, events and gardens. We host a variety of outreach programs and informational seminars and produce a free, informative publication, Food for Thought.

We are also committed to bringing jobs and wellness into the area as a conscientious employer providing a safe, healthy work environment and offering benefits and competitive wages to our employees.

Morristown * Third Thursday of each month, 8:00 pm onwards * Hennessey's Tavern, 140 Morris St (Corner of Elm & Morris, next to the train station) * There's plenty of public parking behind train station or on Elm Street. * Come on by & raise a pint with other fun loving local progressive's! Hope to see you there... * Hosted by Jim Long, Chip Robinson, David Cochran and Linda Humphries, morristown (at) drinkingliberally.org

Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women MeetingSam DiVico Senior CenterCape May Court House, NJ 08210Join the Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women to discuss important local, state and federal issues. All are encouraged to join!

* New Jersey has approved a 350-megawatt, offshore wind farm at least 16 miles out to sea. If completed in 2013 as scheduled, it will be the first offshore wind farm in the US.

* The state's energy efficiency programs save enough electricity to power over 25,000 homes for a whole year, save more than $29.2 million in energy costs, and prevent the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking over 20,000 cars off the road. Although great progress, the state still has much more potential to increase its energy efficiency.

* New Jersey has a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires all public utilities to generate 22.5% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2021.

Alternative energy and YOUR energy bill: YOU can be part of the solution for America by signing up to purchase your energy through a Green Power Provider. My wife and I have been doing this in NYC for years. All our energy usage is provided through wind energy generation on American farms. So we use clean energy AND help American farmers. It costs us three cents per kilowatt-hour more per month, but we feel great about it. Although our actual energy may come from anywhere, we are paying to purchase wind energy for the energy grid. Each state has different programs available, usually through yuor existing energy provider right on your existing energy bill. To find such options in New Jersey, go here and pick your energy provider from the list. If you need help, you can email me and tell me who you get your bill from (don't give me any other info!) and I can tell you who to contact to go green through that energy provider. Or you can do the same thing using Renewable Energy Certificates through an organization that works with utility companies, though in this case it is a separate bill. One off the cheapest (.4-1 cent per kilowatt-hour), but still e-Green certified, ways to do this is through Good Energy. Or, for about half a cent per kilowatt-hour you can purchase renewable energy certificates through Carbonfund.org. ANY of these ways you do it, you are helping the environment, helping America, and helping cut carbon emissions.

The Newark Alternative Energy Meetup GroupMeet other local individuals interested in exploring all forms of Alternative Energy. Discuss ways to preserve the world's resources and protect the environment!

In Addition, you will receive informative newsletters that are chock full of Alternative Energy news from around the country. For more info go here.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey is a twenty two year-old, membership based educational nonprofit organization. We are a unique collaboration among the stakeholders in our food system; our members and our governing board include farmers, consumers, retailers, processors, educators and researchers. We serve as a catalyst in the development of a sustainable organic agricultural system; provide assistance to both organic and progressive conventional farmers to help build and maintain sustainable operations; educate diverse audiences about the significance and meaning of organic practices for food and the environment; and provide independent, third-party certification to organic farms and processors.